TIPS Trainees
Meet the trainees in the TIPS for Kids 2023-2024 cohort!
Emma Luebbering, Occupational Therapy
Emma Luebbering is currently a second-year occupational therapy student at the University of Missouri. Originally from St. Thomas, Missouri, Emma discovered a passion for working with children with disabilities at a young age. During her freshman year of college, she began volunteering with the Mizzou Swimming and Water Instruction Modifications (S.W.I.M.) program for children with autism. She is currently a personal care assistant for a 9-year-old with CHARGE syndrome and autism, a job she absolutely loves. These experiences have ignited a deeper passion and enthusiasm within her for supporting children with disabilities and their families. Emma’s research interests include Autism, adaptive community resources for children and youth with disabilities, and the lived experiences of families of children with disabilities. Outside of academics, she enjoys staying active, being outside, and spending quality time with her family and friends. Emma is eager to participate in the TIPS program, an opportunity that will serve as a platform for her personal and professional development by increasing her interdisciplinary collaboration skills and enhancing her ability to support children with disabilities and their families effectively.
Hannah Moore, Occupational Therapy
Hannah Moore is a second-year occupational therapy student who graduated from Truman State University with her bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science. Hannah discovered her passion for working with the pediatric population through working with a client and by reflecting on her family’s experience adopting her younger brother with speech, language, and eating difficulties. Her lifelong interest in neurodevelopment began with the prevalence of ADHD and learning disabilities among family members and was further kindled through discovering the TIPS program. Outside academia, Hannah enjoys staying active with her dog, exploring Columbia, and having movie nights with her friends. Hannah is excited to be a TIPS trainee and looks forward to the interdisciplinary aspects of helping children with autism and neurodevelopmental disabilities.
Em Burke, Occupational Therapy
Em Burke is a second year occupational therapy student from Cuba Missouri. They received their undergraduate degree from the University of Missouri. Em enjoys the outdoors and being active. They have worked as a rehabilitation therapy aide at Children’s Therapy Center for almost three years, and has developed a passion for working with children. Em has a dedication to working in mental health settings as well, and hopes to cultivate positive mental health experiences in the future. As a future occupational therapist Em is excited to explore many possibilities and areas of interest such as LGBTQ+ health, schools, mental health, and pediatric health care. Em looks forward to being part of the TIPS program to gain experience and knowledge while being able to support families and clients in a meaningful way.
Cameron Marteeny, Psychology
Camryn Marteeny is currently a fourth-year undergraduate student at the University of Missouri, looking to graduate in the spring with a Bachelor’s of Science in Psychological Sciences. Originally from Edwardsville, Illinois, Camryn has been involved in working with children for as long as she can remember. Her passion for working with children with developmental disabilities really blossomed as she entered college and enrolled in psychology courses. Since then, Camryn has immersed herself in a multitude of opportunities within the field where she discovered her true commitment and dedication to assisting and advocating for children with disabilities. As well as being involved with the Thompson Center, Camryn also works as a research assistant for two psychology laboratories on-campus. She also spent her summer deepening her passion and skillset by working as a Registered Behavioral Technician (RBT) to assist children with autism spectrum disorder. After her undergraduate studies, Camryn plans to further her education by pursuing a Doctoral program in Clinical Neuropsychology. Outside of her academics, Camryn enjoys running, reading, and spending time with friends and family. She is extremely excited to be a part of the TIPS program and looks forward to working as part of a team to deepen her knowledge and skills on how to best serve her future clients and families.
Logan Zanger, Psychology
Logan Zanger is a fourth-year undergraduate student on track to graduate in the spring with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychological Sciences. He was born and raised in Quincy, Illinois, where he played soccer and earned an associate’s degree at John Wood Community College before transferring to Mizzou. Logan’s interest in working with neurodivergent individuals stems from his experiences with close family members. His passion has further blossomed since taking classes at Mizzou and observing at the Thompson Center. In the future, he plans to pursue a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology to become a Pediatric Neuropsychologist. He enjoys traveling, watching sports, listening to music, and playing video games in his free time. Logan is excited for the opportunity to work alongside graduate students and professionals while serving others as a member of the TIPS program.
Madeline Hulshof, Physical Therapy
My name is Madeline Hulshof, and I am incredibly honored to be part of the TIPS program. During my undergraduate experience at Mizzou, I completed a bachelor’s degree in Health Sciences with an emphasis on Rehabilitation Sciences and a minor in Human Development and Family Sciences. I noticed that my attention always settled on what I can do to help individuals who have different abilities. Part of that reason is because I have an aunt who had cerebral palsy and required extensive resources to maintain any sort of function. Because of this, I was raised to pay attention to what I can do to help others like her. My parents instilled the values of advocacy and compassion into me from the day I was born. My mother was an early childhood development teacher and founded a preschool program, so I was able to transfer those values by following her example and helping her along the way. It is natural for me to want to help kids, get on their level, and seek to understand more of their world. When I am not tending to the responsibilities of PT school, I enjoy taking walks with my little dog named Harpo, catching up with friends, and doing yoga at Pure Barre! I am beyond excited to begin my TIPS journey! I can’t wait to learn and develop my skills so I can be the best possible PT for my future patients.
Torey Clogston, Physical Therapy
Torey Clogston is a second-year physical therapy student at The University of Missouri – Columbia. Torey graduated from MU with a Bachelor of Health Science in 2021. Growing up in Jefferson City, MO, she taught private swim lessons to children with disabilities and realized her passion and enthusiasm for working with children on an individual basis and getting to work with the families of the children she taught. During her undergraduate career, Torey volunteered for the STRIVE program at The Thompson Center where she grew in her commitment to working with individuals with autism and other disabilities. Outside of her interests in pediatric physical therapy, Torey enjoys hiking, traveling with her husband, and trying new recipes. Torey is excited to be involved in the TIPS program and to gain more knowledge of interprofessional care to better serve her patients in the future.
Camille Gudde, Physical Therapy
Camille Gudde, a second-year physical therapy student at the University of Missouri, grew up in Holden, Missouri. Camille earned her Bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology from the University of Central Missouri where she also ran on the cross country and track teams. She discovered her passion for working with the pediatric population through an internship that she completed at a pediatric physical therapy clinic during her undergraduate education. That experience opened Camille’s eyes to the positive impact physical therapy can have on children with developmental disabilities. Combining her love for pediatrics and running, Camille volunteers with the Blue Thunder Track Club in Columbia, Missouri. Outside of her studies, she enjoys hiking, being crafty, and attending Mizzou sporting events. Camille is excited to be a part of the TIPS program and soak up each opportunity it presents.
Vanessa Klotz, Speech Language Pathology
Vanessa Klotz is a second-year graduate student pursuing a degree in Speech-Language Pathology at the University of Missouri. She grew up in Maryville, Missouri, and has always had a passion for helping others become the best version of themselves. Additionally, Vanessa highly values inclusion and teaching individuals to self-advocate. Vanessa has had many opportunities to work with individuals with autism and other developmental disabilities through babysitting and other various clinical experiences. She is thrilled to serve clients and their families through the TIPS program and further educate herself while collaborating with other disciplines. In her free time, Vanessa enjoys going on walks, trying new coffee shops, attending concerts, and playing pickleball.
Molly Scott, Speech Language Pathology
Molly Scott, a second-year graduate student studying speech-language pathology at the University of Missouri, grew up in St. Peters, Missouri. Her passion for working with children with developmental disabilities began from experiencing the effects therapists had on her older brother who has autism. Molly’s commitment to children with developmental disabilities was furthered by her experiences at Community Living Inc., in-home care positions, and various clinical experiences. Her future goals include working with children with developmental disabilities through early intervention. In her free time, Molly enjoys traveling, walks, and spending time with family and friends. She is excited to be a TIPS trainee to deepen her education on how to treat individuals with developmental disabilities as a whole person.
Sarah Stelzer, Speech Language Pathology
Sarah Stelzer is a second-year graduate student studying speech-language pathology at the University of Missouri. Her passion for serving individuals with autism and other developmental disabilities has been cultivated through experiences at the MU Speech and Hearing Clinic and the Thompson Center. She is most excited to work as part of an interdisciplinary team and better serve children and their families. Beyond her studies, Sarah enjoys reading, decorating cakes, and listening to Taylor Swift.
Sophie Deters, Social Work
Sophie Deters is a second year Master’s student pursuing a degree in social work at the University of Missouri. Over the past four years, Sophie has worked with individuals with developmental disabilities and children through local organizations such as Best Buddies, Centro Latino de Salud, and the city’s Youth in Action program. She is interested in a career as a school social worker and wants to cultivate a deeper understanding of working with diverse populations in order to best fit their needs. Outside of academics, Sophie spends her free time working on music, thrifting, taking long walks, and spending quality time with her friends and family.
Angela Keller, Self-Advocacy
Throughout my life, I have frequently encountered phrases such as “You cannot do that,” “That’s not how things work,” and “You’re autistic, you cannot do this or that.” Despite not receiving an autism diagnosis until my college years, the indications were present since childhood. The experience of being a woman with autism was particularly challenging, as it defied expectations. Advocating for my needs became imperative, and upon receiving my diagnosis, a sense of alignment emerged. Subsequently, I connected with numerous individuals facing similar challenges, confronting prevalent misconceptions such as “you’re able to make eye contact,” “you don’t resemble someone with autism,” “girls don’t get autism,” and “you’re unable to do that because you’re autistic.” Post-graduation, I zealously dedicated time to reshaping the narrative surrounding the capabilities of individuals on the autism spectrum. This steadfastness has allowed me to lead a fulfilling life, being happily married for a decade and nurturing a daughter who, like me, is both autistic and medically fragile. My journey has underscored the necessity of advocating for a societal shift in perceptions, emphasizing that individuals are more than their diagnosis and can lead wholesome, content lives while pursuing their aspirations.
Kristin O’Brien, Family Advocacy
Kristin O’Brien joins the TIPS for Kids Program as a Parent Advocate. She holds a bachelor’s degree in both biology and mortuary science. For the last ten years, Kristin has been a stay-at-home mom, foster parent, and later adoptive parent with the forever addition of her fourth child. Kristin’s youngest son has a rare disease, KAT6B Syndrome, along with many medical complexities including Cerebral Palsy and Autism. She first began her advocacy work as a medical foster parent learning to navigate the foster care system and medical systems simultaneously. Kristin has traveled to Baltimore, Maryland and Boston, Massachusetts to attend conferences for her son’s rare disease. She is currently enrolled in training and coaching sessions with the Deaf Blind Project of Missouri and attends educational webinars sponsored by the KAT6 Foundation. She’s a “soccer mom” with a schedule extra full of medical appointments, therapies and sports practices. Kristin loves to share all facets of parenting a child with a rare genetic syndrome and is looking forward to being a part of the program.